Razorxp & KC Mentor team RFP CLOSED (Page 14)

Hi all,

Swam 800m yesterday.  Tried to not point my toes.  Lo and behold, no cramps! Did't break any world records either, but that only happens in my dreams. lol  Semi good run, very hot though. 

KC hope all goes well with your mom.  Never apologize for sharing, we all are here for each other.

Charlie-can you say "meds"? Maybe you are taking too much.  But I understand your frustration, I can't smell anything these days.

Have an hour bike ride tonight then off to daughter's orchestra concert. Love the daughter, hate the concerts, they take too long.  3+hours

KC, share whatever you like.,  The mental part of this sport is as important as the workouts.

Did Masters this morning focusing on stroke efficiency.  Getting 17 to 20 strokes/25 yards consistently. 

Have Functional Threshold Power Testing tonight.  After a warm up, I go all out for 20 mins on a computrainer simulated time trial course. The result sets my maximum watts for the next 2 months.  All workouts are based on the number.   Looking for an improvement over 295 watts which is my FTP now.  I was at 300 at the end of the year last year for my HIM.  I hope to get there today.  If so, that will be big.  Hard to eek out watts at this point.  But should do it.  Been working hard.

Have a great day.

KC - thoughts and prayers for your Mom and family.  Wishing for a quick recovery.

So I got my best friend into triathlon this year and is doing 2 races with me.  One of our other buddies who has gained an extreme amount of weight since college is always making fun of us for being "in-shape",  He has joked that he is gonna do a race at some point.  Well I got the call yesterday that he had a mild heart attack while at work.  Keep in mind we are 36.  Hopefully this is a wakeup call for him and maybe we'll have another race buddy next year. 

I am finally getting up and ate something this morning.  I am trying to stay hydrated but it is hard.  I am worried about what my plan should be for the next week and a half.  When should I attempt to run again?  This flu has wiped me out. 

Ideally you will eventually want to be able to use your feet as flippers.  I have very in-flexible feet so sometimes when I lay on my back I put a heavy blanket on them to force a stretch.  Over time you will gain alot of flexibility.  Wow 3 hr concert? I would be bouncing off the walls! Good luck

Sucks about your friend, hope he has a speedy recovery and can make a life change.  Keep us posted.   As for your next couple weeks I would try to  get back onto your plan but maybe ease into it.  (ie if it calls for 6 miles try 2-4 & see how you feel) That is if you have any energy at all.  Remember you will gain nothing this next couple weeks so its all about recovering and maintaining what you have worked so hard for!!!   Many people have their best races when they were sick a few weeks out as it forces them to rest.

OK group I am setting a new rule:

No more major medical issues allowed in this group!! for some reason everything is contagious in our group.   (sorry have to make light of a major subject but we have to lift the mood and focus on good things). 

Anyone traveling/training over the Easter holiday?

Lots of posts to catch up on.

KC, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.  Stay positive, my friend.  Many things are out of our control and we just have to roll with it.  Do what you can to stay positive.  It's infectious.

Sorry to hear about your friend, Tim.  Hopefully that will motivate him to get active.  You should show him the "Couch Potato to XXXXX" plan.  Maybe that'll help him to get started after he recovers.

I ran 3.25 miles yesterday.  I actually was able to do 1.25 miles before getting the need-to-catch-my-breath feeling.  When I first started two weeks ago, I could only run 0.25 miles before needing to walk 0.25 miles, then run 0.25 miles and walk 0.25 miles, etc.)  For the first time, I felt like my desire to stop and walk was more mental than physical.  Because it's starting to be mental for me, what do you guys think of when you're doing these long runs/swim/bike?  I find myself constantly thinking "You've run plenty already, you can stop and rest" and "You said you could stop by the time you run to the sign, but really, you should stop by the time you get to the street 50 yards before the sign."  What are you thinking mentally in order for you to keep going and not let your mind stop you?

Also, can you believe it?  I'm still shoe shopping.  I have wide feet, and am learning that there's very limited selection for our flippers, at least for a reasonable price.  I'll be glad when this shoe shopping saga is over.

Whoops...didn't mean to have the words "contagious" and "infectious" appear in two posts in a roll.  Must be a sign, Coach.

I haven't played "golf" in the pool, but I know the rules.  I've focused on gliding, stretching out, kicking with my legs more together, thinking torpedo...Honest it works. 

Thanks for the well wishes on the sweat fest.  It will be that.  Before I had the CT, I had to go to Peoria (about 45 miles) and ride one there with the other VQ athletes.  We would test on a Saturday all together.  Frankly I liked that more because if the "competition."  It is harder to ramp myself up for an individual effort by myself.  But in another way, I enjoy it too because it gives me an intense focus.  The biggest part is not having the coach there to tell me how to pace and then yell go, go, go as I near the end.  Maybe I should record him.

kc- i will pray for your famly and your mom.  i hope she has a speedy recovery.

has anyone used salt tabs?  i do not know anything about them.  do they come in powder form or tablet form?  how do you recommend you use them?

George: way to go on the extra mile before getting winded! that is a great improvement!  As for the shoes all I can say is don't be afraid to try on every pair.  I do everytime I get a new pair. 

Lets start a new trend of all PR's for everyone!

Karen: enough with rubbing in the beach runs! we had snow 40 miles north of here yesterday! :-(   They are calling for rain the next 6 days here with temps in the 40's/50's.  

This sport is 1/2 mental anyways so if you can push hard by yourself it makes it all the better.

Jason: I use salt tabs for Longer races as I sweat like crazy.  Best is to guestimate your sweat rate and then use as directed.  For last years IMKY temp was about 95+ so I used 2-4  every hour on the bike and about the same on the run.

Good video Great information.

KC-My prayers go out to you and your family.

Tim sorry for your friend.  Heart disease runs in my family so I have seen lots of relatives go too early.

George great on the run times.  Keep it up. 

Karen, no beaches here but the weather is great.  Soon we will be melting so I am enjoying it while I can.

No training today since it is a scheduled off day.  Kind of glad it is since I had a long day at work ( gun range) in the sun and want to do nothing other than vegitate!

No races this weekend, only work .

Have a good night all.

KC, sorry to hear about your Mom.  Hope everything turns out okay.

So pretty much no training this week since we're packing for the move next Tuesday.  I'll be so happy when we get settled and get back into a routine again.

KC - my thoughts are with you and your family.  Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for your mom!

Tim - I'm so sorry about your friend.  I hope he recovers quickly!  

Trying to stay motivated to do 4x4 interval run tonight.  Meeting my brother afterwards for dinner so I need to try and leave the office at a decent hour!

Happy training everyone!

sarah

Running is all about mental toughness.  If you are constantly thinking about stopping you will want to stop.  Instead focus on your form, breathing, keeping your heart rate down, etc...  I stopped running with headphones 2 years ago so I do even my 20+ long runs without them.  It is almost like meditation.  I become really intune with my body.  I often do find myself thinking about everything but running most of the time.  If your breathing is getting too labored, slowdown, if you feel your heart beating out of your chest slowdown - BUT DON'T STOP   Thats the key.  Keep building up those distances with your weekly long runs and before you know it the mileage your worried about now will be a warmup!

I saw a speaker at the Chicago marathon expo a few years ago talking about salt tabs and he suggested actually using the McDonalds salt packages.  His reasoning is that with the salt tabs you have no idea how much sodium you are consuming but with actual salt you won't overdue it.  I tried it right before my HIM last year and also during the race.  Had no issues but really have no idea if it worked or not.  Just wanted to put it out there for discussion.

Terrific FTP test with 1 X 20 @ 110% @ 95 rpm.  Second test (which doesn't count toward FTP) was 1 X 20 @ 97% @ 83 rpm.  Strong test. Highest I've been.  Interested in seeing what the coach determines my FTP to be.  It should be back to 300 watts at least.  That was my highest ever and at the peak last year before my HIM.  

Also swam this morning with the masters.  Stroke efficiency drills.  All good.  Great day!

As for jerks in cars - I had one brush me with his side mirror and drive off and another scratch me with something and push me when I was on a viaduct over an interstate.  Didn't catch that either.  I think Illinois needs concealed carry.  I'd be at the gun shop the next day.  Not to shoot anyone, mind you, but it would make a believer out of them.

Court: Gun range???? sounds fun with our weather I have not shot in weeks.  Are you an instructor along with an officer?

Caleb, good luck with the move you have to be so excited!  Safe travels

Sarah, interval run sounds as fun as Scotts workout tonight! Enjoy dinner with your brother!

Tim: great advice, I do still listen but don't really pay attention I just like noise.  Heck half the time I can barely hear the music.  Not to mention on most tri's there are no headphones allowed. I train with a lady that uses the mickyd's salt, she cracks them open and pours it on her arm as its sweaty then licks it off every mile or so as needed.  I would be afraid it would make me way too thirsty.

Karen that's why I carry a gun on the bike.  Atleast it stayed fairly calm, way too many times it gets out of hand.  I don't say a word as they are in a 2ton weapon, i'm on a 15lb piece of carbon. My guess is I will loose every time.

Scott, great workouts again.  Is 95 your comfort cadence?  I only wish I could keep mine that high, I tend to avg around 75.